Skipping down the aisle at my local NYC Whole Foods market I cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the amount of marketing hyjinx that surround me left to right, toe to tip top of my head. Blue bunny's selling crackers, laughing cow's selling cheese, swimming ducks selling cookies and even a bright red Elmo character selling oatmeal. Is this what our food has evolved to? Have we forgotten the entire point of healthy eating? It's not about the "experience"--its about the food. Every box and bottle seems to be selling something other than the actual food:

ENERGYHAPPINESSZENPURITYMENTAL POWER

Vitamin Water sells everything from energy to relaxation to mental focus. So it makes me wonder--why even bother with "real food" when I can drink my happiness and eat it too!

Kid and adult food packaging has gotten out of control. How will kids ever learn the true meaning of food if all they crave is the box with the seven foot yellow bird on it??

Can Kids Ever be Happy with SIMPLE HEALTHY FOOD? TRY THIS TEST:

I dare you to do a marketing test on your own kids:Put in front of them several foods. One of which is in its original form and one of which is branded and marketed with characters, colors or toys. Try this:Gather, an apple-sliced by hand.A glass of milk or chocolate milk (soy, almond, dairy or rice milk).A glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.A hand made peanut butter and sandwich-using organic low in sugar ingredients.And a bowl of handmade trail mix--even with a few dark chocolate chips in it.

Then on the other side of the table place a character-branded juice box.A character branded milk box (same flavor as used above.One of those welches kid-branded freezer section pb and j sandwiches (loaded in sugar)And a kid-branded granola bar--maybe even without any chocolate chips!

...Now let them choose! Free will!

If your child chooses all the healthy non-branded items---bravo to you, lunch can be served!

...But if your kid is only human, and chooses the marketed, glittered and less-healthy options, you can continue the exercise with a taste test...

Try a blind taste test of all the ingredients.

Then ask your child which they preferred in taste.

If they choose the healthy stuff-yay for pure young taste buds. But if they have a taste for the less healthy items, you've got a bit more work to do. Next, try explaining to your child which items are loaded with sugar and which items are healthy in vitamins and nutrients that will help them grow strong!

Check out some of the FUN FOOD FACTS at the lUNCHBOX bUNCH WEBSITE. ONLINE HERE:

http://www.lunchboxbunch.com/funfacts.html

And next time you go to the store, spend a lot of time in the non-branded fruit and veggies sections--and try to spark some interest and curiosity in you child for healthier options. You can even print out a CIRCLE-IT GROCERY LIST featuring the Lunchbox Bunch characters.